Suicide Attacks and Islamic Law
International Review of the Red Cross, Vol. 90, No. 869, March 2008
19 Pages Posted: 1 Apr 2011
Date Written: March 2008
Abstract
Suicide attacks are a recurrent feature of many conflicts. Whereas warfare heroism and martyrdom are allowed in certain circumstances in times of war, a suicide bomber might be commiting at least five crimes according to Islamic law, namely killing civilians, mutilating their bodies, violating the trust of the enemy soldiers and civilians, committing suicide and destroying civilian objects or properties. The author examines such attacks from an Islamic jus in bello perspective.
Keywords: suicide attacks, perfidy, ruse, treachery, heroism, Islamic jus in bello, non-combatant immunity, reprisal
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